The Blues had Sergio Aguero to thank for rescuing a draw with Argentine striker twice pegging back the Hammers who had taken the lead within a minute.
On reflection, a share of the spoils was just about right in a game that never let up from start to finish.
City had been served fair warning of what West Ham are capable of with a 2-1 defeat at the Etihad still reasonably fresh in the memory.
The Hammers have excelled against the teams tagged as title-contenders this season and were well aware a victory over the Blues could propel them into fifth spot in the table.
And the hosts couldn’t have made a much better start with City a goal behind after just 53 seconds.
Cheikhou Kouyaté picked up a pass on the left flank before driving past Yaya Toure and whipping in a low cross that fell nicely for Enner Valencia who drilled a low shot past Joe Hart from eight yards.
It was the worst possible start for the Blues, but it sparked a rousing response that would soon see the visitors level.
Aguero came with in a coat of paint of equalising on six minutes as he controlled a lofted Yaya Toure pass before sending a sumptuous chip over West Ham keeper Adrian only to see the ball bounce back off the inside of the post.
Within a minute, however, Aguero raced into the box after exchanging a clever one-two with David Silva and Carl Jenkinson mis-timed his tackle and sent the Argentinian sprawling.
Referee Craig Pawson pointed to the spot and Aguero coolly dispatched his 14th goal of the campaign. It was no more than the Blues deserved, either.
Back on a level playing field, City continued to threaten the hosts without finding a way through and as the half wore on, so West Ham came back into the game and Slaven Bilic’s side almost regained the lead on 33 minutes.
Martin Demichelis took one for the team as Michail Antonio drove forwards towards the box with the City man scything down the Hammers forward and picking up a yellow card for his troubles.
From the resulting free-kick, the dangerous Dimitri Payet hit a powerful free-kick towards the top left-hand corner but Hart was equal to it as he somehow managed to tip over what had looked like a certain goal.
It proved to be the last time either team came close to scoring again during what had been an entertaining opening half.
City could have been ahead ten minutes after the break when Fabian Delph’s low shot struck the post on 54 minutes and within two minutes West Ham had regained the lead.
There seemed little danger as the ball went out for a Hammers throw on the right flank, but the Blues switched off as Antonio quickly spotted the run of Valencia, launched the ball into his path and Nicolas Otamendi couldn’t prevent the Ecuadorian poking the ball past Hart.
It was sloppy by the City defence and it once again left the Blues with work to do.
With the hosts largely happy to sit back and soak up any response from the Blues but, in truth, there was little initially to repel.
Aguero sent a fair header a few feet wide from Bacary Sagna’s cross, but as the game edged towards the final ten minutes, it was hard to see City getting back into the game.
Kelechi Iheanacho was introduced to add some extra firepower and it was the teenager who provided the spark that got the Blues back on level terms.
With nine minutes remaining, Iheanacho drove into the box and managed to play the ball to Aguero who made no mistake from close range.
It was a gutsy response from the Blues who might have won it with a late Aguero effort - but so could the Hammers as a Kouyate header struck the bar with the last act of the game.
All in all, City will travel home reasonably pleased with what could prove to be a valuable point.
